The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-28
DIGGER INDIANS.
Some Facts About Those Who Live
in Nevada County.

Few people perhaps know that the
Diggers who live in Pleasant Valley,
and are known as the Pamblos, have a
musical man among them. This Dig
ger is known as Bob. He is 8 really
good performer on the guitar, flute, fife,
violin, organ and harmonica. He has
played for several "pale-face" dances.
and handles violin like master.
He is pure-blooded Digger, and, so
far as he knows, none of his ancestors
were muslcally inclined.
The tribe also boasts OF having cen
tenarian, an old squaw, whose hair is
white as snow, whose daughter Is IS
wears old, and whose only English
ejaculation is, Gimme two bits.
Captain Pamblo is a short, wiry old
fellow. He is about 80 years OF age,and
is one of the most inveterate hunters IN
the country. His unerring aim has LAID
low many a jackass rabbit,a humbled
to the dust many proud woodpecker.
Many people do not know why the
Diggers prize the red scalp of the wood
pecker. The reason is this: Whenever
they have a dance, or, as they call 1t,
"a big SOUP" they rig themselves out
as Enthusiastically as possible. Every
buck who wishes to dance must buy
ticket. paying for it in good solid Amer
lean silver.
AS ticket the scalp of the wood
pecker recommends itself. 1t Is gaudy
and conspicuous. The tall feathers of
the yellow hammer are used for the
same purpose, two feathers being
fastened to little stick which is worn
in the hair or carried in the hand.
Thsse "big soups" are frequent. A
Digger will work hard for week or
two when the acorns are ripe and lay
in supply of them for winter. Then
he will notify some other tribe, and all
| his relations back to the tenth genera
| ton will come to see him and help him
devour the whole lot. Then they in
yite the family to the host OF their
"campooda." and so the ylsltlnfi and
"big souping" goes on till all the rela-
tons have visited each other and there
are no more acorns to devour.
The Digger is child OF nature, and
he cares little for the fashionable
follies of the world. Some OF them are
noted for their wicked ways, and one OF
the Pamblos, hard case known as
"Scar-Face Dick" or Dick Tomale, has
been a holy terror among his people fol-
many years. Several efforts have been
mad to kill him by his tribe and the
Nevada City Indians, but all have
failed. He is the most intelligent Dig
ger of them all, and will discuss any
subject, not ignoring religious matters
But his favorite subject is spiritualism
His arguments are often full of dry
sarcastic humor. The dry humor is s
part of the average Digger's disposition
Captain PambIo was once passing {
| house where young lady was singing
vigorously. He paused and listened
Then turning to a boy who was playinf
near, he said, gravely: why for sht
cly?'' Dick Tomale once listened
gravely to several young men anc
women who were discussing ghosts. A
last he interrupted them and in hi
drawing way said: "Ya-as, believe II
ghosts, too. met ghost one night
wasn't exactly full, but had some
wine.It was dark, and saw big whit
ghost get up out of the ground ant
stand in front of me. l hauled off ant
hit it with my fist, you bet. F"
'sWell," said listener, what was it.
| Dick looked around mysteriously
picked up his rifle, spat at fiv on ri
sleeve, and as he moves off wi b a igh
and cunning air, said in loud whisper
ut was a rock. "-Neyada City Herald